Dr. Joe Salgado
Artesia General Hospital

As a physician and CEO of Artesia General Hospital, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the strength, resilience, and compassion of this community every day. I’ve also seen how access to quality healthcare—close to home—can change lives.

That’s why I’m urging every eligible voter in our district to vote “Yes” on the upcoming renewal of the hospital mill levy.

This isn’t a new tax. It’s a continuation of local support that has been in place for decades—support that has made it possible for Artesia General Hospital to grow from a small, local facility into a trusted regional healthcare provider. Thanks to the foresight of community leaders who established our hospital district, we’ve built a legacy of care that generations of families rely on.

So why does this matter now?

AGH is a not-for-profit hospital. That means every single dollar we receive—from patient fees, insurance reimbursements, or the mill levy—is reinvested into the services we provide. The mill levy plays a crucial role in covering our operational expenses. This in turn frees up other funding to go toward state-of-the-art equipment, infrastructure upgrades, new specialty services, and the recruitment and retention of medical staff.

In short, the mill levy makes it possible for us to do more—and do it better—for the people we serve.

Across New Mexico, many rural hospitals depend on similar mill levies to maintain vital services. These community-approved funds help ensure patients in smaller towns don’t have to travel hours to get basic or specialized care. They allow hospitals like AGH to offer diagnostic imaging, women’s health services, surgical care, and primary care right here in our backyard.

Without this stable funding, the services we’ve come to depend on could face serious strain.

This is a vote about keeping care local, accessible, and high quality. It’s about ensuring our friends, neighbors, and families can continue to receive compassionate, expert care without leaving the community we love.

If you’re voting by mail, please remember to follow the county’s requirements: include your signature and the last four digits of your Social Security number and return your ballot on time. You can also vote in person at the county substation.

I’m incredibly proud of the team at Artesia General Hospital and the work we do together every day. With your support, we can continue building a healthier, stronger community—now and for generations to come.

Let’s keep healthcare close to home. Vote “Yes” on the mill levy renewal.

Dr. Joe Salgado is the chief executive officer of Artesia General Hospital.